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these maidens that have will to go with me and be made sisters of my
sisters； and wed with the warriors of the Rose； or if they are of a
kindred； and long to sit each in the house of her folk； then will we
send them home over the sea with warriors to guard them from all
trouble。 For this gift I thank thee。 As to thy throne； I bid thee
keep it till a keel cometh thy way from our land； bringing fair gifts
for thee and thine。 For we are not so unwealthy。〃
Those that sat nearby heard his words and praised them； but the Erne
said： 〃All this is free to thee； and thou mayst do what thou wilt
with the gifts given to thee。 Yet shalt thou have the throne； and I
have thought of a way to make thee take it。 Or what sayst thou； Puny
Fox？〃
Said the Puny Fox： 〃Yea if thou wilt； thou mayst； but I thought it
not of thee that thou wouldst。 Now is all well。〃
Again Hallblithe looked from one to the other and wondered what they
meant。 But the Erne cried out： 〃Bring in now the sitter； who shall
fill the empty throne！〃
Then again the screen…doors opened； and there came in two weaponed
men； leading between them a woman clad in gold and garlanded with
roses。 So fair was the fashion of her face and all her body； that
her coming seemed to make a change in the hall； as though the sun had
shone into it suddenly。 She trod the hall…floor with firm feet； and
sat down on the ivory chair。 But even before she was seated therein
Hallblithe knew that the Hostage was under that roof and coming
toward him。 And the heart rose in his breast and fluttered therein；
so sore he yearned toward the Daughter of the Rose； and his very
speech…friend。 Then he heard the Erne saying； 〃How now； Raven…son；
wilt thou have the throne and the sitter therein； or wilt thou
gainsay me once more？〃
Thereafter he himself spake； and the sound of his voice was strange
to him and as if he knew it not： 〃Chieftain； I will not gainsay
thee； but will take thy gift； and thy friendship therewith；
whatsoever hath betided。 Yet would I say a word or two unto the
woman that sitteth yonder。 For I have been straying amongst wiles
and images； and mayhappen I shall yet find this to be but a dream of
the night； or a beguilement of the day。〃 Therewith he arose from the
table； and walked slowly down the hall； but it was a near thing that
he did not fall a…weeping before all those aliens； so full his heart
was。
He came and stood before the Hostage； and their eyes were upon each
other； and for a little while they had no words。 Then Hallblithe
began； wondering at his voice as he spake： 〃Art thou a woman and my
speech…friend？ For many images have mocked me； and I have been
encompassed with lies； and led astray by behests that have not been
fulfilled。 And the world hath become strange to me； and empty of
friends。〃
Then she said： 〃Art thou verily Hallblithe？ For I also have been
encompassed by lies； and beset by images of things unhelpful。〃
〃Yea；〃 said he； 〃I am Hallblithe of the Ravens； wearied with desire
for my troth…plight maiden。〃
Then came the rosy colour into the fairness of her face； as the
rising sun lighteth the garden of flowers in the June morning； and
she said： 〃If thou art Hallblithe； tell me what befell to the
finger…gold…ring that my mother gave me when we were both but
little。〃
Then his face grew happy； and he smiled； and he said： 〃I put it for
thee one autumntide in the snake's hole in the bank above the river；
amidst the roots of the old thorn…tree； that the snake might brood
it； and make the gold grow greater； but when winter was over and we
came to look for it； lo！ there was neither ring nor snake； nor thorn…
tree： for the flood had washed it all away。〃
Thereat she smiled most sweetly； and whereas she had been looking on
him hitherto with strained and anxious eyes； she now beheld him
simply and friendly； and she said： 〃O Hallblithe； I am a woman
indeed； and thy speech…friend。 This is the flesh that desireth thee；
and the life that is thine； and the heart which thou rejoicest。 But
now tell me； who are these huge images around us； amongst whom I have
sat thus； once in every moon this year past； and afterwards I was
taken back to the women's bower？ Are they men or mountain…giants？
Will they slay us； or shut us up from the light and air？ Or hast
thou made peace with them？ Wilt thou then dwell with me here； or
shall we go back again to Cleveland by the Sea？ And when； oh when；
shall we depart？〃
He smiled and said： 〃Quick come thy questions； beloved。 These are
the folks of the Ravagers and the Sea…eagles： they be men； though
fierce and wild they be。 Our foes they have been； and have sundered
us； but now are they our friends； and have brought us together。 And
to…morrow； O friend； shall we depart across the waters to Cleveland
by the Sea。〃
She leaned forward； and was about to speak softly to him； but
suddenly started back； and said： 〃There is a big； red…haired man； as
big as any here； behind thy shoulder。 Is he also a friend？ What
would he with us？〃
So Hallblithe turned about； and beheld the Puny Fox beside him； who
took up the word and spoke； smiling as a man in great glee： 〃O
maiden of the Rose； I am Hallblithe's thrall； and his scholar； to
unlearn the craft of lying； whereby I have done amiss towards both
him and thee。 Whereof I will tell thee all the tale soon。 But now I
will say that it is true that we depart to…morrow for Cleveland by
the Sea； thou and he； and I in company。 Now I would ask thee；
Hallblithe； if thou wouldst have me bestow this gift of thine in
safe…keeping to…night； since there is an end of her sitting in the
hall like a graven image： and to…morrow the way will be long and
wearisome； What sayest thou？〃
Said the Hostage： 〃Shall I trust this man and go with him？〃
〃Yea； thou shalt trust him；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃for he is trusty。 And
even were he not； it is meet for us of the Raven and the Rose to do
as our worth biddeth us； and not to fear this folk。 And it behoveth
us to do after their customs since we are in their house。〃
〃That is sooth；〃 she said； 〃big man； lead me out of the hall to my
place。 Farewell； Hallblithe； for a little while； and then shall
there be no more sundering for us。〃
Therewith she departed with the Puny Fox； and Hallblithe went back to
the high…seat and sat down by the Erne； who laughed on him and said：
〃Thou hast taken my gift； and that is well： yet shall I tell thee
that I would not have given it to thee if I could have kept it for
myself in such plight as thou wilt have it。 But all I could do； and
the Puny Fox to help withal； availed me nought。 So good luck go with
thine hands。 Now will we to bed； and to…morrow I will lead thee out
on thy way； for to say sooth； there be some here who are not well
pleased with either thee or me； and thou knowest that words are
wasted on wilful men； but that deeds may avail somewha